NEIGHBOURHOOD

Cultural programme marks annual function
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 11
Tiny tots of Bhupindra International Public School presented a cultural programme during the school’s convocation and annual function, which was held on school premises.

SP Preetpal Singh, Patiala, was the chief guest. The function commenced with recitation of shabad, which was followed by the cultural extravaganza presented by the tiny tots.

The students also presented dance and music items, besides enacting English play “Grandfather’s Birthday”. The chief guest conferred the certificates to the Montessori students.

School principal Indu Sharma read the annual report and the function was concluded with a vote of thanks by school president Gurmeet Singh Arora.

Banur, January 11
Two employees of Gurukul Vidyapeeth suffered head injuries after gunshots were allegedly fired last night by some people associated with another educational institute located nearby. The victims, who filed a complaint in this connection at the local police station today morning, have demanded registration of a case and speedy arrest of the suspects.

However, Banur SHO Jagbir Singh stated as both parties had decided to strike a compromise no case would be filed.

On the other hand, Amandeep Singh, assistant finance director of Gurukul Vidyapeeth, alleged despite repeated requests and a written complaint the police had initiated no action in the matter. “The police has not even recorded the statements of the victims who are undergoing treatment in a nearby hospital since last night”, he added.

The injured - Netarpal Singh, deployed as a security guard, and Vinod Kumar, a construction supervisor, received head injuries in the incident, while all other employees and students ran for cover during the reported firing.

Amandeep claimed four empty cartridges have also been recovered from the college campus and students residing in its hostel are in a panic over the incident. “Last night the suspects tried to encroach upon campus land by creating a ruckus and intimidating employees and students. They made a similar attempt last month and a case was filed at that time as well”, he added.

Yesterday the attackers broke windowpanes, canteen doors and fired gunshots in the air in a bid to intimidate college students and employees. Earlier, they had reportedly broken doors in the campus last month.

“The police is delaying in lodging an FIR in this regard and is indirectly trying to help the suspects”, Amandeep alleged.

Meanwhile, the investigating officer in the case at Banur police station told TNS over phone today evening that he had not been able to record the victim’s statements as he was on ‘VIP duty’ since morning. “I’ve no idea so far about the number of victims in the incident or the type of injuries inflicted on them. I’ll try to reach the hospital in which they are being treated after about an hour or so”, he said, even 20 hours after the incident.

Kharar, January 11
Infosys Technologies Limited will hold a placement drive at the Ryat-Bahra Center of Bio-Excellence, Kharar, on January 15. Infosys is holding this drive for students of the Rayat-Bahra group under its campus recruitment programme 2009- 2010.

The company will be recruiting systems engineer with a gross pay package of Rs 3.25 lakh per annum.

Gurvinder Singh Bahra, the vice-chairman, Rayat-Bahra group, said that it was a matter of pride for the group that IT giant like Infosys was recruiting students from its campus. He said during the training period, the selected students will be offered Rs 2.7 lakh per annum.

Kalka, January 11
Dr IJ Nagpal, associate professor at Government College for Women, Karnal, delivered a lecture on global warming to students of Aruna Asaf Ali Government PG College, Kalka, here recently. The extension lecture was organised by the faculty in department of geography.

Dr Nagpal also threw light on the causes, impact and remedies of global warming. He elucidated on how the practice of rapid deforestation had led to reduction in forest cover resulting in increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Among other causes of global warming that he held responsible were uncontrolled emission of green house gases, release of CFCs, increased activities of combustion, use of conventional sources of energy, industrialisation, urbanisation and rapidly increasing pollution and population.

Dr Nagpal quoted the UN Panel report which paints a horrifying picture of the results of unchecked global warming in the years to come which may lead to vanishing of glaciers, perishing of wild life, shortage of food and water and the spread of diseases like cholera and dengue, besides, the submerging of coastal areas under sea water. However, through remedies like reforestation, use of non-conventional sources of energy, harnessing of solar, wind and tidal energy, organic farming pollution and population control, generating environment consciousness and through the persistent efforts of all developed and developing nations to ensure eco-friendly way of life and controlling the emissions of harmful gases in their respective countries could be checked, he said.

Kalka, January 11
Major projects have been hanging fire for more than a decade due to the apathetic attitude of the state government and district administration.

In 1995, the then state government had taken theinitiative on the project of setting up a polytechnic in Nanakpur village and the then Chief Minister Bhajan Lal had laid the foundation stone of the project. The village panchayat had also allotted adequate land for he purpose.

Same year, the then Congress government had also laid the foundation stone in Kajiana village in connection with the setting up of a tourist centre to encourage tourist activities in the area.

The state government had even acquired 8 acres for this purpose, but the project is hanging fire till date.

A local politician recently submitted a memorandum to Kumari Selja, MP, and Cabinet Minister, urging her to start the projects.

Similarly, the project of setting up of mini-secretariat at Kalka is in the lurch due to the apathetic attitude of the local administration, as it has not been able to finalise the site for the project for the last more than two years.

Official sources reveal that the state government had fours years ago taken the initiative to set up mini-secretariat in Kalka. The then Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, and other officials concerned had visited the Kalka tehsil in this regard. But the project has not seen the light of day.

Kalka is in dire need of a mini-secretariat, as Kalka sub-division came into existence in 1992 and since its inception, most of the offices are functioning in scattered buildings in commercial as well as residential areas in different localities. A majority of such buildings are in a deplorable condition or even not safe for operation. The offices functioning there require immediate shifting.

Setting up of the Solid Waste Management Project of Kalka and Pinjore jointly is pending for more than four years due to the lethargic attitude of the district administration despite the fact that the two towns are in dire need of solid waste management project.

According to sources in the Municipal Committee Kalka, a proposal in connection with the setting up solid waste management was sent to the office of district town planner (DTP) Panchkula three years ago for NOC. The muncipal committee Kalka and muncipal committee Pinjore had jointly selected 5 acres for this purpose near village Seyuri, opposite NH-22 adjacent to BDPO office Kalka.

The solid waste management project of Govt of India was to be completed at a cost of Rs 2 crore. But the department of town and country planning, Panchkula, had rejected the plan in 2006 . The sources revealed that in the first quarter of 2008, the MC, Kalka, again sent a proposal in this regard for the approval to the DTP, Panchkula and the muncipal committee Kalka. But the project has not fructified.

Similarly, implementation of various projects like extension of lal dora in villages under the periphery area and extension of municipal limits of Kalka and Pinjore municipal committees are lying pending with the government.

Chandigarh, January 11
In a major relief to ace shooter Abhinav Bindra’s father Dr AS Bindra, Justice K Kannan today directed Punjab Meats Limited (PML) “will retain its possession without any imposition of terms”.

Dr Bindra is PML’s managing director. The company was earlier directed to “pay Rs 28 crore as an interim measure to retain its possession”. So far, it has paid just about Rs 4 crore.

In its petition, the company had earlier sought directions to Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Limited and other respondents to honour one time settlement. Directions were also sought for quashing the order dated December 23, 2009, passed by the debts recovery appellate tribunal.

The debt recovery tribunal had earlier advised the parties to explore the possibilities of resolving the dispute and work out a scheme for the repayment of loan. The appellate tribunal, afforded to the reconstruction company ARCL the liberty to “withdraw the amount” and directed the debt recovery tribunal to dispose of the case in accordance with law.

Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan observed: “The grievance of the petitioner is that the appellate tribunal had literally chocked it out of its resources and was predetermining the issue by directing a large sum to be deposited to retain possession”.

Justice Kannan added: “It could be noticed that the debtor company is really at its wits’ end trying to retain its possession, unable still as it is to match the expectations of the creditor and the reconstruction company of what is legitimately due to them.

To pay Rs 28 crore as an interim measure to retain its possession and prosecute the review application before the debt recovery tribunal was indeed a tall order.”

Allowing the petition, Justice Kannan observed: The directions given by the appellate tribunal are set aside and the matter will now be taken up by the debt recovery tribunal. Till a final decision is given, the debtor company will retain its possession without any further imposition of terms.”

Chandigarh, January 11
Nearly after less than a month of his conviction in the 19-year-old Ruchika molestation case and his subsequent sentencing to six-month rigorous imprisonment, former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore today filed an appeal in the District and Sessions Court of KK Garg, challenging the orders of the trial court.

Available information suggests that the appeal has been filed through another counsel instead of his counsel wife, Abha Rathore, who had been appearing as his counsel throughout the trial of the case. The order of the trail court has been challenged on the ground that the court did not consider evidence and their point of defence.

The appeal will be committed to an appropriate court tomorrow by the Sessions Judge.

The court of CBI magistrate J Sindhu had, on December 21, 2009, sentenced Rathore to six-month rigorous imprisonment besides imposing a fine of Rs 1,000. Rathore was on bail and had one month to file an appeal.

The appeal comes three days after the Panchkula Sessions Court dismissed his anticipatory bail application on January 8.

Following orders of the trial court, the Girhotras broke their long silence and finally Ruchika’s brother and father had gone public on the case.

Three fresh cases, on charges like attempt to murder, forging of documents, abetment to suicide, illegal confinement etc., had been registered against Rathore following complaints by the duo.

Jolt for Rathore came when a high-powered committee recommended that Rathore’s medal should be taken back. A special investigating team was also formed to hold a fresh probe into the case and hand over its findings to the CBI.

Recently, the school where Ruchika used to study had also been found guilty of wrongly expelling her after the UT Administration carried out an inquiry into the matter. 

Chandigarh, January 11
Following a notice by the CBI special court for his approval or disapproval of the closure report filed by the CBI in the infamous cash-for-judge scam, Amrik Singh, the complainant in the case through his counsel, today requested for the copy of the said report first.

The case, which came up for hearing today in the CBI special court of Darshan Singh, had hit a roadblock following the helplessness as expressed by the investigating agency in its closure report filed in the court on December 19.

During the proceedings that lasted for nearly 15 minutes, the counsel for Amrik Singh, Rajdeep Singh Cheema, appeared on his behalf and requested for a copy of the closure report.

However, the judge stated that it was not under the provisions of law to provide them with a copy of the report and that they could obtain a certified copy of the report only after replying for the same.

The court has now fixed February 1 as the next date of hearing. Meanwhile, the counsel has already filed for a certified copy and they are expected to get the same in a day or so.

Rajdeep Singh, when contacted, said they would decide the response of the closure report only after reading the entire report.

It must be recalled that in its closure report, the CBI had reportedly stated its helplessness seeking it and had asserted that in the absence of sanction for prosecution by the Chief Justice of India, it was not in a position to go ahead in the matter. This despite having ample evidence in this case, suggested the report.

During the last hearing of the case on December 24, Darshan Singh had verbally rapped the CBI for including the names of the other alleged accused in the report. It was stated that the sanction was required only in the case of Justice Nirmal Yadav. In its absence, the CBI could have proceeded against the other accused, he had said.

It may be recalled that the Chief Justice of India had already refused to permit the CBI prosecute Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was the alleged intended recipient of the Rs 15 lakh that was mis-delivered at the residence of another judge with a similar name, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur by clerk of a Haryana law officer in August 2008.

The Central government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India had decided that there was no action required in this case. The sanction was only needed for Justice Nirmal Yadav, she being a public servant.

However, the same was not required for the other accused, including Delhi-based businessman Ravinder, former Haryana additional advocate general Sanjeev Bansal and his clerk Parkash.

Chandigarh, January 11
Sukhdev Singh Gill, a proclaimed offender (PO) and brother of former Deputy Speaker and Minister of State of Punjab, Naseeb Singh Gill, continues to be in judicial custody after a local court today deferred the hearing on his bail application.

The court of Manisha Jain today deferred the arguments on his bail plea and extended his judicial custody.

Sukhdev Singh was declared a PO on July 12, 2000, in a case pertaining to trespassing, misappropriation and misuse of property and theft concerning house number 14, Sector 18, Chandigarh.

The case was registered against him along with his two brothers Naseeb Singh and Manjit Singh in 1994 on the complaint of Naresh Chander Ghai. While the other two were acquitted of the charges, Sukhdev, who was caught recently by the Punjab Police near Malout, was declared a PO after he did not appear before the trial court in this case, despite repeated summons.

Meanwhile, an appeal and revision petition are pending in the court of Sessions Judge, impugning order of acquittal.

Chandigarh, January 11
In yet another incident of stabbing in the city, a group of unidentified persons assaulted a man at Darua village here last night.

According to the police, the victim Akhilesh of Gas Colony, Darua village, reported that four unidentified persons assaulted him near Sukhna Bridge last night. He was rushed to the Sector-32 Government Medical College and Hospital and was admitted.

He suffered minor injuries on his hand and on the back.

The police said the assailants did not rob the victim, as his mobile and wallet were found to be intact.

Bassi Pathana, January 11
The Dala Brothers Hockey Centre, Moga, won the under-14 hockey tournament by defeating the Youth Club, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib, 2-0.

The two-day hockey tournament was organised by the Dashmesh Hockey and Welfare Club in collaboration with the District Hockey Association.

Chief parliamentary secretary Bikramjit Singh Khalsa was the chief guest whereas SSP-cum-DHA president, Dr Kaustubh Sharma, presided over the function.

Addressing the prize distribution function, Khalsa said hockey was the national game but it was a matter of great concern that it had been ignored at every level.

He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had initiated various steps to promote hockey and state game kabaddi.

He said sportsmen in the state were getting better facilities. He said sports promoted discipline and sportsmanship. He appreciated the efforts of SSP and Dashmesh Hockey Club in promoting hockey in the district.

Dr Kaustubh Sharma said sports kept youths away from drugs and other anti-social activities. He gave detailed information about the steps taken to promote hockey.

Advocate Harnek Singh Diwana and father of leading hockey player, Inderjit Singh Chadha, donated 50 hockey sticks to the players.

The chief parliamentary secretary announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the Dashmesh Hockey Club.

Mohali, January 11
The Punjab team was declared winners in the U-19 Cooch Behar semifinal match held at the Punjab Cricket Association grounds here today as the Maharashtra team was disqualified on disciplinary grounds.

The Maharashtra team refused to take the field after they were not allowed to substitute a player in place of Sunil Yadav who was turned out of the field by umpires for having verbal confrontation.

The umpires refused to allow the substitute as Yadav was sent out for reasons other than an injury.

However, visitors continued to play with 10 players for an over before refusing the take on the field.

Earlier Sunil Yadav, who remained unbeaten on his individual score of 35 runs, had complained about poor light conditions several times, which were turned down by the umpires resulting in the beginning of the controversy.

The match was awarded to Punjab after Varinder Sharma and Vilash Bandiwdekar, on-field umpires, held discussions with officials.

Earlier resuming from their overnight score of 80 runs for the loss of eight wickets, the Maharashtra team was bowled out for 93 runs in their first innings. Kamal Passi, Punjab, was the pick of the bowlers as he took five wickets giving away only 45 runs.

In reply, Punjab had made nine runs without losing any wicket before the controversy occurred.